Automatic alarm device



Nov. 23, 1943.

N. S. BRIGHT AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1943 INVENTOR MCI-10419.5 .5. BE/HT Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,335,033 AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE Nicholas S. Bright, Milwaukee, Wis. Application February 17, 1943, Serial No. 476,141

9 Claims.' (01. 179-5) My invention relates to improvements in automatic alarm devices.

The primary object of my invention is to so connect and so mount an ordinary conventional telephone in an alarm system that the telephone will be in condition for instantaneous transmittal of an alarm message. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide facilities for normal telephone use and'still as sure the establishment of the telephone in position for alarm purposes, necessitating nothing more than a release mechanism to permit gravity to motivate the telephone mechanism.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my telephone'stand and gravity telephone pedestal, the telephone instrument thereon being in front elevation. ,1

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Figure l, with awiring diagram of a conventional electric fire alarm system connected to my sound device shown in my telephone stand.

Like parts are designated by the same refer-' ence characters throughout the several views.

In my automatic alarm device any form of alarm circuit may be used to establish an electric impulse in an electric circuit to initiate the alarm. In the drawing a typical thermostatically controlled fire alarm circuit is shown, although it will be obvious from the following description that a burglar alarm or any other form of signalling system may be used to set my sound effect alarm and telephone set in operation. In Figure 2 I show, diagrammatically, spaced bimetal thermally responsive elements I and H, each disposed to close a circuit including wires l2 and I3. These wires are the .main leads for a circuit including a source of electric current at M. Thermostats l0 and Il may be placed strategically to be influenced by excessive heat indicating a conflagration, and when the circuit l2-l3l4 is closed my alarm device is given sufficient current to institute and maintain its operation.

My alarm device is housed as shown at [5 to provide a telephone stand for a conventional telephone instrument l6 having a base l'l, transmitter and ear phone or handset l8, the characteristic equipment including a master switch, not shown, which is closed to complete the telephone circuit when the handset 18 or receiver is lifted a short distance in its cradle or hook 20;

It will be noted as an important part of my invention that I have shaped my telephone stand l5 so that there is no other surface to securely receive the telephone instrument over than platform 2| in pocket Zla formed in the upper surface of the stand. All other surfaces are curvedand inclined .to prevent careless misplacement of the telephone instrument.

The platform 2l is supported'on stem 22 extending through a vertical bearing 23, and the stem .22 is in turn supported on a toggle 24 which, when in the position shown in Figure 1, against the stop post 25, firmly supports the telephone instrument sufficiently high above any portion of thestand that the handset or receiver will be firmly in position in the cradle with the master switch open.

At 26 I provide a light spring connected to and-biased with'respect'tothe toggle to urge it to the position shown in Figure 1, but only with sufficient strength to resist displacement from ordinary jostling of the stand I5.

30 is an electro-magnet in the main circuit l2-|3 with a spring mounted armature 3| connected by a chain 32 to the toggle (see Figure 1).

When-one of. the thermostats closes the, circuit I2-|3 the armature is pulled to the magnet. the chain pulls the toggle over center and gravity drops the platform 2| and instrument IS. The shape of the stand at 33 is such, however, that the handset or receiver I8 is supported byethe stand and the master switch of the telephoneis closed, thus placing the telephone 16 in com munication with the general telephone circuit.-

Within the stand I5 I mount any form of phonograph instrument or other sound effect" device 35 to be energized and motivated by the.

current in circuit l2--l3-M, thus causing any alarm sound effect to emanate from the stand 15, and I provide screened openings at 3,6 and 31 y to pass the sound efiect to the telephone handset l8 which will transmit the alarm to the telephone operator, or anyone available on the telephone circuit.

Thus I provide a reliable signalling or alarm device, the phone being always in position to take the alarm and gravity being the force resorted to to place the phone in operative condition to transmit the message. The phonograph record may call for help or it may give complete dir'ections as to location and means of access to the building when its phone is located.

Beneath the pedestal I provide a spring 38 Y sufiiciently strong to support the platform and fore, when the instrument is removed the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 1. The

a pedestal or toggle spring 26 is biased to tilt the toggle against post 25; The entire devicetherefore resets itproducing .unit and an adjacent telephoneinstrument supporting device, a release mechani sm forming part of said supporting device and positioned when in releasing position to permit prises a housing and is provided with phone-- graphic alarm means in operative proximity to the position of the mouthpiece when the yieldable support yields.

* 5. The structure of claim 3 wherein a housing surrounds the releasable means and provides the relatively fixed supports and has guide means for the relatively yieldable support. together with phonographic alarm means in the housing with a speaker in operative proximity to the position of the mouthpiece on its fixed support, and an alarmsystem comprising anactuator for the release of 'saidmeans and a control for said the instrument to lower by gravity, a handset for the instrument and a member in fixed posi-.

tion to support the handset when the telephone is lowered, and an electric-circuit with electric responsive devices positioned to substantially phono'graphic means. v

6. An alarm device for use with a conventional telephone instrument having-a base and a hand set'with mouthpiece and receiver portions; said device comprising separate supports for the base and the hand set so oilfset vertically that only simultaneously energize the unit and the release mechanism.

2. In a device of'the character described, 'a .telephone stand contoured to provide a single restricted platform for a telephone instrument and a fixed member adjacent thereto in position to support a switch operating portion of the instrument, a pedestal beneath the platform,

said pedestal being provided with a toggle support, and an electric motive element connected to the toggle whereby upon-motivation thereof to withdraw the toggle and permit the platform to drop andJeave the switch operation portion in supported switch closing position and place the instrument in operation, and a telephone on the platform provided with a switch v and switching operating portion.

3.'- In an alarm device for use with a conven tional telephone instrument having a base provided with a. cradle and master switch and a hand set with a mouthpiece and receiver and adapted to rest inthe cradle to hold suchswitch open; said device comprising the combination with a. downwardly yieldable support for the instrument base, and releasable means normally carrying said support against downward yielding movement, of'relatively fixed supports disposed at opposite sides of the yieldable support and positioned to be beneath the handset mouthpiece and'receiver and normally in closely vertically spaced relation thereto, whereby the handset is usable in a normal way and unimpeded but is held up by" said relatively fixed supports to permit the opening of the master switch when said yieldable support yields downwardly to lower the base, upon release of said means. I

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the relatively fixed support for the mouthpiece comthe base normally rests on its support, the hand set support being slightly below the hand set as normally carried by the base and the hand set being unencumbered in position fornormal use, means mounting at least One of said supports for vertical movement relative to the other in a direction such as..to engage the handset upon itssupport to lift it from the base, and means controlling such relativev movement.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the relatively movable support isbiased for movement in said direction and the control means comprises a stop normally opposing such movement and mechanism including'an electromagnet for retracting said stop to permit such movement.

8. The device of claim' 6 in which the support for the hand set comprises relatively spaced' mouthpiece is engaged, whereby to be adapted.

to deliver a message to the hand set mouthpiece when the hand set is raised from the base, said phonograph having means controlling its oper-' ation and connected to the means controlling relative movement of said supports, whereby said phonograph operation and the lifting of said hand set are concurrently efiected.

NICHOLAS S. BRIGHT. 

